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Longmont officer injured during fight with car break-in suspect

Both shocked with a Taser during fray

By Pierrette J. Shields Longmont Times-Call

Posted:
12/04/2012 03:00:17 PM MST

Updated:
12/04/2012 03:13:38 PM MST

Aaron Zinke
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Picasa
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LONGMONT -- A Longmont police officer suffered minor injuries early Monday morning when a man suspected of breaking into a car on the 1600 block of 18th Avenue tried to fight off the officer during an arrest.

Aaron Zinke, 19, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree criminal trespass of a vehicle, both felonies, and misdemeanor resisting arrest. He was taken to Longmont United Hospital for treatment after officers arrested him and booked him at the Boulder County Jail.

According to police reports, Officer Randolph Herrera was dispatched to the 1600 block of 18th Avenue about 1:48 a.m. Monday morning on a report that someone had broken into a vehicle but did not take anything. While searching the area, Herrera spotted someone tossing items over a fence near the intersection of Gay Street and Gay Circle and stopped to ask him what he was doing. Herrera reported that he could smell a strong odor of alcohol from the man as they spoke and the man -- later identified as Zinke -- said he was throwing his stuff over the fence. The officer said Zinke's pockets were bulging with items, so he told the teen he was going to place him in handcuffs to determine what was in the pockets.

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Zinke initially complied with Herrera's orders, but turned and punched the officer after Herrera had gotten one cuff on Zinke's left wrist, according to reports. Herrera reported that Zinke said, "I'm not going anywhere with you," and then grabbed the officer's tactical vest and started pulling items off of it, including pepper spray. Herrera briefly got the teen away from him and he was able to radio for help before the struggle continued.

Herrera reported he was able to reach his Taser during the fight and shock Zinke with it, but the charge shocked the officer, as well. He said Zinke knocked the Taser out of his hand, police reported.

The men continued to fight until a second officer arrived and was able to help Herrera cuff and detain Zinke, according to reports.

Zinke later told police that he had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend earlier in the evening. He said a man arrived at his home and stole several items. He told police saw the man's car and entered it to retrieve his property and then "freaked out" when Herrera stopped to ask him about it.

He denied punching Herrera and said he may have "resisted a little bit."

Herrera's face was swollen, and his knees were bloodied and scrapped. He was treated and released from the hospital for a facial contusion, according to police reports.

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